The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-21
SHOULD PAY THEIR SHARE.
How the Citizens et-Railway Company
Has Grown Rich off of Indianapolis People.

"The Citizens Street-railway Company said
gentleman familiar with that company's af-
fairs, Ought to be held firmly to the Washing
ton-street Improvement The present COM
pany's investment here. as everybody knows,
has been highly profitable one. The road really
cost them but triie. They traded chips and
whetstones to Mr.. English for his stock. The
chips and whetstones are in the shape of real
estate at Louisville, which Mr.. English still
holds and has never been able to realize any
thing out of. The road was bonded at $500, 900.
Only little over 5000, 900 Of this had been is
sued. When the Johnsons got the road they is
sued the remainder about $50, 600, and that Is
where they got money to make their first
improvements on the road. The capital stock of
the road was and is $500, 900. The Johnsons
bought in some of the stock very low-from five
to fifteen cents the dollar-and they have never
really put $25, 600 in the road. Since that
time the road has been earning dividends on this
whole amount-$500, 900 of capital stock The
bonds of the road are held by Mr.. Dupont, of
Louisville, who is of the company. The
Citizens Street-railway Company has been
making money hand-over-fst, their earnings be-
ing Increased by giving US Door service and
goucing the public in every way possible. The
Medina-stone improvement ought not to be de-
layed day. 1t is almost the unanimous opinion
of good attorneys that the street-railway COM
pany can be made to pay their share.
1.-THE company have always lodged their
taxes. After much difficulty q statement was
got from them in which they placed their tax
ables at $144. 230. The Board of Equalization,
amazed at this exhibition of GALL increased the
amount to $197. $50, which is somewhat nearer
the mark. Among the items put in the state
ment OF the company were the following:
Six hundred mules 600
Harness 900
Eighty eight Observation-Disclosures $4,000
Foity miles of road ST. 900 mile. ---..-. 10000
zone thousand dollars a mile! A frst-cass
road with good rail and the track as it should
be is worth $4,000 mile and upward. OF
course, the Citizens street-car track, rail and
road-bed is much of it very cheap and of little
account. but it's value is much above 81, 900 a
mile Colonel johnson says, l understand
that he has refused par for the bonds
and stock. that is $500. 000-property
that never cost the company $4,000
all told, and paying handsome dividends. And
yet tho company complains and fights needed
street Improvement. Property-hoders have en-
dured great deal from this nggardy pig
headed company. The company have no inter
est in the welfare of Indianapolis they want
everything from the cty-in the past they have
had it-and will give nothing in return. They
have been talking about building cable lines on
Washington street and Massachusetts avenue.
Why don't they build them2 Some OF these
mornings they will wake up and discover that
during the night the goose that laid the golden
egg has died. They don't appreciate the fact
that they have good thing"